Practice tether ball device



March 21, 1961 J. J. BALES 2,976,040

PRACTICE TETHER BALL DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1958 INVENTOR.

JACK, I. BALE 8 yzmM 43M ATTORNEVS ice United States PatentiQ" 2,976,040 PRACTICE TETHER BALL DEVICE Jack J. Bales, 1163 Orange Ave., Beaumont, Calif. Filed Sept. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 762,078 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-26) This invention relates to ball game practice apparatus, and more particularly to a practice apparatus of the tether ball type wherein a captive ball may be struck by a person for practice purposes, for example, by a tennis racket or other type of bat.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved practice ball apparatus which is simple in construction, which is easy to set up, and which provides valuable assistance in improving the skill of a player by developing correct methods of using a tennis racket or other type of striking implement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved practice tether ball device which is inexpensive to fabricate, which is durable in construction, and which is easily adjustable to different heights in accordance with the requirements of the person using same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved practice tether ball device constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown set up for use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a practice tether ball device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The tether ball device comprises a suitable vertical support, for example, a vertical tubular post member 12 which is secured in a stationary position, for example, by being embedded in the ground. Designated at 13 is a horizontally extending arm which is adjustably secured at a desired height on the post member 12, for example, by means of conventional clamping bands 14 and 15, engaged respectively with the upper and lower portions of the depending end element 16 of the arm 13, as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the end element 16, which is of substantial length, is provided at its top portion with a loop 18 and at its lower portion with a second loop 19. The upper band 14 engages through the loop 13 and around the element 16, passing around the vertical post 12 and clamping element 16 to the post. Welded to the element 16 opposite the loop 18 is a generally V-shaped saddle member 20 which receives the vertical post 12, facilitating the clamping engagement of the element 16 with said post responsive to the tightening of the clamping band 14. Similarly, a saddle member 21 is welded to the lower portion of the element 16 opposite the loop 19 and receives the post member 12 in clamping coaction therewith responsive to the tightening of the lower clamp 15. As shown in Figure 1, the lower clamping band 15- passes through the lower loop 19 and extends around the post member 12, in a manner similar to the upper clamping band 14.

The arm 13 is braced relative to the depending end element 16 thereof by an inclined brace rod 22 which rigidly connects the outer portion of arm 13 to the lower portion of the depending element 16. The outer end of arm 13 is formed with a reduced stud portion 23 on which is engaged the annular inner ball race 24, said ball race 24- being clamped against the shoulder defined by the reduced stud portion 23 by means of a nut 25 threadedly engaged on the stud portion 23 and being tightened to rigidly fasten the annular member 24 against said shoulder. Suitable bearing washers 26 and 27 may be employed on opposite sides of the annular inner ball race 24, as shown in Figure 3. Designated at 28 is the annular outer ball race which concentrically surrounds the inner ball race 24 and which is rotatably supported thereon by the provision of the .ball bearings 29 which are received in the respective op posing annular ball grooves 30 and 3 1 provided in the facing surfaces of the race members 28' and 24'.

Designated at 32 is a flexible cable member which is fastened to the outer annular ring member 28, for example, by the provision of an aperture 33 in the peripheral portion of the ring member 28 through which the end portion of the flexible cable member 32 is looped, as shown at 34 in Figure 3, the looped end portion 34 being secured by tying same to the main body portion of the flexible cable member 32, as shown at 35. Fastened to the free end of the cable member 32 in any suitable manner is a practice ball 36 which may be of relatively light material, for example, of plastic material or any other relatively durable light material.

In using the apparatus, the player strikes the tethered ball 36 with a tennis racket or other type of bat, for example, a baseball bat. If struck with sufficient force, the ball 36 rotates completely around the axis of the horizontal arm 13 in a substantially vertical plane, as shown in dotted view in Figure 1. As will be readily apparent, since the ball 36 is relatively light, a considerable amount of skill must be exercised in order to strike the ball 36 with sufficient force to cause it to completely revolve around-the axis of the arm 13. Thus, the players coordination and timing is considerably developed and also the player has an opportunity for developing proper forehand and backhand strokes when the apparatus is employed for use in developing proficiency in swinging a tennis racket. In the same manner, the apparatus may be employed as an aid in developing proficiency in swinging a baseball bat or other type of bat.

As will be readily apparent, the apparatus is useful not only as an aid in developing proper stroking technique or in developing proper coordination and timing in the use of a baseball bat or other type of bat, but may be also employed for recreational purposes as a game device.

While a specific embodiment of an improved practice tether ball device has been .disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: p

A practice tether ball device comprising a vertical support post, a horizontal arm, a depending vertical leg on one end of said arm, a pair of spaced loop elements on said leg, respective vertical V-shaped saddle members on said leg opposite said loop elements and engaging said vertical support post, respective clamping straps engaged through said loop elements and clampingly engaging around the support post and clampingly securing said arm at an adjusted position on said vertical support post,

a vertical inner annular racering secured to the other end of said arm, coaxially with the arm, an outer annular race ring concentrically surrounding said inner race ring, a plurality of ball bearings engaged between said race rings, said outer race being formed with an aperture in its peripheral portion, a flexible cable member connected to said outer race ring at said aperture, and a practice ball secured to the free end of the flexible cable member.

UNITED STATES PATENTS White June 7, 1932 Walther Oct. 20, 1936 Neiden Dec. 15, 1942 Johnson Feb. 7, 1950 Ross May 4, 1954 Anson Dec. 4, 1956 

